>
> On Dec 5, 2008, at 2:04 PM, SA wrote:
>
>> Given the timing and the lack of effect from wedge issues, my
>> interpretation is that Lane Kenworthy was right: His paper
>> [http://tinyurl.com/6du6xw] concludes that the WC shift against Dems
>> was caused
>>
>>> perhaps most importantly by changes in working-class
>>> whites' confidence in the Democrats' ability to deliver the goods on
>>> particular
>>> issues. The key issues were material ones.
>
> If that were true, why don't the populist/social democratic types do
> better in primaries and elections? Why didn't Edwards get more than a
> few percentage points?
For exactly that reason. The rhetoric just doesn't seem credible. "We're going to raise your wages and give you free health care." "Oh yeah?"
SA